Ayatollah

This article is about the Shia Islamic title. For other uses, see Ayatollah (disambiguation).
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Ayatollah (UK: /ˌaɪəˈtɒlə/, also US: /ˌaɪəˈtoʊlə/; Arabic: اية الله, romanized: ʾāyatu llāh; Persian: آیت‌الله, romanized: âyatollâh [ɒːjjætˌolˈlɒːh]) is an honorific title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy. In Iran it came into widespread usage in the 20th century.[1][2]

Originally used as a title bestowed by popular/clerical acclaim for a small number of the most distinguished marja' at-taqlid mujtahid, it suffered from "inflation" following the 1979 Iranian Revolution when it came to be used for "any established mujtahid".[3] By 2015 it was further expanded to include any student who had passed their Mujtahid final exam,[4] leading to "thousands" of Ayatollahs.[5]

The title is not used by the Sunni community of Iran,[1] nor by Shias in Lebanon, Pakistan, or India.[1] In Iraq, the title is not unknown, but is only used for clerics of Iranian origin.[1]

In the Western world – especially after the Iranian Revolution – it was associated with Ruhollah Khomeini, who was so well known as to often be referred to as "The Ayatollah".

Grand Ayatollahs of Qom, Iran; Religious leaders who have the authority to interpret sharia sources in Shia Islam[6] used assertive titles such as Hujjat al-Islam, Ayatollah, Ayatollah Al-Uzma and gained tutelage over people and the administration.[7][8]
  1. ^ a b c d Algar 1987
  2. ^ Glassé 2003
  3. ^ Momen, An Introduction to Shi'i Islam, 1985, p.205-6
  4. ^ Golkar 2017, pp. 219
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Momen178 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Sociology of religions: perspectives of Ali Shariati (2008) Mir Mohammed Ibrahim
  7. ^ Newman 2006, p. 734
  8. ^ al-Shaykh al-Saduq 1982, pp. 151–152